The Twins weren’t able to hold an early 2-0 lead, and fell to Cleveland 7-2 on Friday evening.
The loss means Twins’ manager Ron Gardenhire is stuck with 999 career wins for at least another day. It was also Minnesota’s seventh straight loss to Cleveland and their ninth loss to them in their last 10 meetings.
The game started late after a thunderstorm pushed the start back by more than two hours.
The Indians benefitted from big sixth and seventh innings.
Minnesota brought the bats early, claiming an early 2-0 lead off of Cleveland starter Danny Salazar. Josh Willingham drove in Brian Dozier for the first run for the Twins. Leading 1-0, Chris Colabello, off of his 6 RBI day on Thursday, crushed a solo home run.
But that was it for the Twins offense.
Mike Pelfrey was cruising early. Pelfrey was perfect through four innings, and still throwing a one-hit shutout through five, but he ran into his usual problems in the middle innings, according to the Pioneer Press.
In the sixth Pelfrey gave up three runs on three hits, two home runs and three walks. He was tagged with the loss.
#MNTwins pitcher Pelfrey comes undone after promising start: Indians 7, Twins 2 – http://t.co/LscZnrGddE
— Pioneer Press (@PioneerPress) April 5, 2014
Yan Gomes and Nick Swisher’s sixth inning home runs changed the momentum in the game, erasing Minnesota’s early 2-0 lead, and capturing a 3-2 lead themselves.
Swisher finished 2-5 with 3 RBI and the home run, while Gomes was 2-4 with the home run.
After Cleveland took the lead in the sixth, they blew the game open in the seventh as they added four more runs.
Indians reliever Josh Outman picked up the win.
Dozier finished 3-5 for the Twins, to lead the Twins at the plate.
Minnesota (1-3) and Cleveland continue the series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05.
